Demountable partition construction



April 27, 1937. T. R. GRAHAM 2,078,491

DEMOUNTABLE PARTITION CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 15, 19:55 2 Sheets-sheet 2 y Y mi?? i Patented Apr. 27, 1937 trustee applicants December is, icas, saisine. sans 1e Cl.

In buildings such as oilice buildings, etc., the recurring requirements of varying partition changes present a problem which is far from simple. Particularly where it is necessary tc 5 match existent walls, the matter is complicated and costly. While the losses from low salvage value on successive changes are serious, further factors are excessive time and labor requirements.

" A construction which can be assembled and disassembled with a minimum of labor and time, and without wreckage-loss, and capable of easily matching existent walls is accordingly funda mentally important and highly desirable.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and 15 related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particu larly pointed out in the claims, the following de-a scription and the vannexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the 2o invention, these being indicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

Inl said annexed drawings:Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 25 Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on a plane substantially indicated by line lib-II, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on a plane substantially indicated byline IlI--IIL Fig. 1; Figs. 4J! inclusive are perspective views of details; and Fig. 8 is a perspective of lockingmeans.

Referring more particularly tc the drawings, there is shown in Fig: l, an illustrative assembly, this comprising panel sections which can be so 5 assembled as to' conceal all traces of points of juncture, if desired; and a metallic support means therewlthin is of a standard unit character easily assembled and disassembled. The standard unit supports, as shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, are in general of sheet metal formed as strips S, these having spaced beads or flanges 3 (Fig. 6),- at or near the edge, and desirably such flanges may be inthe form of hollow ribs conveniently provided by rolling or other desired sheet metal operation. 'Ihe support strips S are of uniform character, -and applicable throughout for vertical supports and for floor and ceiling supports. Preferably, the web portions may be skeletonized to an extent, or provided with cutout openings 5 50 at spaced intervals, thereby not only removing unnecessary weight, but also aifording convenient openings through which piping, conduits and wires, etc., may be carried. As applied for floor support usage, the support-member is set in de- 55 sired position, and secured by a suitable means,

. a suitable spacing-means.

(CL 72u46) as screws, expansion drives, or the like, depending somewhat upon the character of the door upon which the support must be mounted. Similarly, for ceiling usage, the support is likewise anchored in its required location. At the starting point of the partition from an existent wall, again such support element S is anchored in like manner to the wall at the required position. A complement of top and bottom and wall support elements is thus available into which the panel sections are ready to be assembled. The panel sections in general comprise facing-sheets for the respective faces of the partition wall, and the detailed character of these may be varied in accordance with the surroundings to be matched, whether metallic plates or cellulosic board or plaster board. By providing panel-sheets .in uniform or standardized dimensions, the advantages of easy and quick assembly and disassembly may be obtained. By reason of the shape of the support-members S, panel-sheets may be easily set into position againstthe anges 3. However, as a further renement, it is generally desirable te provide the panel-sheets with protecting and mounting means involving edge-binding strips. These, of sheet metal, are provided in a form to set over and engage the edge of the panel-sheet.` As shown in Fig. 5, such strip may have a groove bounded by the ange 8 and an internal flange 9. By leaving the' outer margin it of the edge-binding strip plane, it may best assemble inconspicucusly in the placement with the panel-sheets.

While single panel-sheets may be employed, I pretergenerally a facing sheet I2, and a backing sheet i3, the latter constituting an air-spacing sheet and being spaced back of the facing sheet I2 in a small instance which may be gauged by For this, desirably sound-insulating strips It of suitable material, as for instance vulcanized ber or tough cellulosic material can be employed, being secured between the facing andair-spacing sheets by suitable means, as for instance cementing. The direction of the sound-insulating strips I4 maybe as most convenient, generally vertical. .Each face of the wall then involves a facing sheet and an airspacing sheet in unitary form, and the material of which these are provided may depend upon the surroundings, but in general it is preferable to employ a fibrous board material such as compressed cellulose, sheeted bagasse fiber, etc., as the air-spacing sheet. The facing sheet l2 in such event may be of fiber board or the like, or in most instances desirably plaster board, as lending itself to application of practically any desired surface or partition finish. With the panelsheet sections of composite character thus, the binding strips as noted are assembled on the edges, and these effect several results. They provide means for convenient securement of the panel sections, and by the iiange 8 also constitute a means for spacing the sheets where a composite sheet structure is employed. Furthermore, they constitute an edge reinforcement and protection which in the case of some materials in the sheet structures is of importance. In a further reiinement of the edge-strip, instead of terminating the inner margin by plate ilange 9 as shown in Fig. 5, the inner margin is re-curved to provide a smooth or hollow ange 9' (Figs. 4, 2 and 3), which in eiIect is a groove directed away from the edge of the panel-sheet whichis assembled, and such groove being bounded by a further outturned ange Bf. The advantage of this construction is that the hollow Iiange or groove 9 may be such as to engage the bead or iiange 3 of the support-members S. With a uniform construction of the support-members and the flange groove 9' for the edge-strips for the panel-sheets, it will be seen that the panel-sheet assembly as equipped with the edge binder strips, can seat against the support-members S in a sort of tongue and groove holding-joint, on any or all edges of the panel section. Thus, the panel-sheet assembly with the edge binder strips ts into holdingposition on the beads 3 of the support strip positioned on the iloor as a floor plate, and similarly the vertical edge of the panel-sheet assembly iits into holding-engagement with a support plate set in vertical position as the starting point of the partition or equally at any intermediate point in the partition. Again, the upper edge of such panel-sheet assembly can nt into holding-position on the beads 3 of a support-member positioned on the ceiling as a ceiling plate, and where standardized dimensions or heights of panel sheet assembly sections are employed, one stretch of section can extend from floor to ceiling. More usually however, the irregular heights encountered in buildings render it necessary to employ a panelsheet section which does not reach wholly to the ceiling, as shown more in detail in Fig. 2. Here, the panel-sheet assembly P extends from the oor plate Sf to a point short of the ceiling, and the diierence is made up by a iiller section F of similar character as the main panel section, such filler section engaging between the edge-binder strip I' of the main panel-sheet section and the upper support or ceiling plate Sc. A holdinglstrip 20 is in such case placed in the groove 2| constituting the reverse of the ilange 8', such strip engaging thence into the groove or recess between the facing sheet l2' and backing sheet I3' of the ller.

Each vertical edge of a panel sheet assembly is engaged by a support-member set in vertical position. Where panel-section adjoins panel-section, as in the usual expanse, such support-members S combine as a particularly strong stud construction. As seen in detail in the horizontal section, Fig. 3, the two support-members S21-are in adjacency, the beads of each being in opposite directions, and establishing in effect a double I-beam arrangement which although of very light weight is outstandingly strong, and the beads of each support element are in holding-relation with the groove or hollow ange 9' of each corresponding panel-sheet assembly. Within the hollow beads 3 of the opposed vertical support-members Sc strips 23 are placed, and by providing these of sound-insulating material, as for instance vulcanized ber etc., the sound-insulating quality of the entire assembly is enhanced. At such points as desirable, vertical support-members Sv may be locked to their position by an expansion locking means. This is generally required at the starting point of the partition and the ending point, against existent walls for instance, although where preferred such vertical supports can be anchored to the wall by screws, expansion bolts or the like. Preferably the vertical support locking-means comprises a hanger 25 (Fig. 8) which may be in the form of a strip of sufiiciently heavy sheet stock with its ends turned back in hook-like form on opposite sides or S-shape. such that one 26 can engage over the upper end of the vertical support-member Sv, while the other hook-end 21 may receive a telescoping member 28, preferably in the form of a channel, which mates with another telescoping member 29 extending up to and engaging the ceiling plate Sc. The telescoping members 28 and 29 are arranged to be forcibly thrust apart by a screw-threaded stem 30 and forcing-nut 3|, the stem being secured t'o a lug 32 on the member 29 and riding through a larger opening in a lug 33 on the lower member 28, while the forcing-nut 3| on the screw-threaded stem thrusts against the lug 33. Thus, the vertical support Sv may be set up with its lower end, preferably as an end extension or tongue, between the beads 3 of the iioor plate, and the double hook member or hanger 25 being hung on its upper end, the telescoping members 29, 29 are set into position on the hanger, and then on tightening down on the nut 3|, the upper end of the member 29 is forcibly driven into position against the ceiling plate Sc between its beads 3.

For a corner projection, as indicated in Fig. 3, the vertical support Sv' may be secured to the appropriate portion of the panel section by suitable means, as screws. bolts, etc., and the end of the partition-portion which would otherwise be open is closed by a vertical support Sv", and a facing-sheet 40 is secured thereover by suitable means, as for instance screws 4|, which conveniently may take into the hollow beads of the vertical support, locking therein. Three-way and four-way conditions can also, as readily seen, be

provided from the standardized parts as will be obvious. In the placement of the verticals, it is desirable 'to interpose a sound-insulating cup 45 (see Fig. 7 particularly) between the end of the vertical support-member and the oor plate.

Such sound-insulating cup may be of vulcanized fiber or the like, and initially shaped in U-form with extension edges 46. The sound-insulating cup being set in position between the beads 3 of the iioor plate, the end 41 of the vertical support is set into the sound-insulating cup, closely engaging.

'I'he manner of erecting the partition will be understood from the foregoing. A support-member S Ais fastened to the oor, another to the ceiling, another to the wall starting-point. 'Ihe panel-sheet assemblies with their edge-binder assembly are then set into place, the edge-grooves thereof taking onto the beads 3 of the support plates. Where conditions require, fillers are superposed, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Vertical supports are set into position against the placed panel section, another `panel section is opposed, then vertical supports, and so on to completion. Where doors or glazed sections are required they are simply substituted in place of the corresponding panels, using iiller portions thereof if necessary; and door framing, metallic or wood. and

base board finish and molding may be applied as desired. It will be noticed that the panel sections are of unit character, each constituting an assembly of the facing-sheet and an air-spacing sheet thereof, with edge-protecting strips, all being handled as one piece, and thus being easily and quickly set into position with the supports. With the panel sections set in place together, any

slight crack which might happento be left between adjacent sections can be smoothed up with a plastic i'lller, so as to be imperceptible. The wall may be-surface-nished in wide variety of forms, as desired in any given instance, and it is particularly easy to match up existent environments. If such partition at some subsequent time needs to be changed, this is easily accomplished. The panels and the supports are dismounted, and there is no breakage of either. Correspondingly, the same units can be re-set in such new location and extent as desired. By providing the unit panel sections and the unit supports in standardy ized dimension, the matter of stock requirements for any conditions encountered, is reduced to its simplest terms, and partitioning for any given location can be simply and quickly provided..

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:-

1. Partition construction comprising panel sections having on each face a facing-sheet, an air.- spacing sheet spaced back thereof, sound-proof spacing strips at intervals between each facingsheet and air-spacing sheet, combined edge-binding and spacing means for said sheets including a sheet-metal edge-strip having a portion to engage the edge of the facing sheet and a groove to engage the edge of the air-spacing sheet and an intrusive ange to engage between and a free groove back of and open in a reverse direction from the last-named groove, sheet-metal supportmembers having hollow flanges toward each panel section and engageable in the free groove of each edge-strip thereof, adjacent verticals being set back toward back, sound-insulating strips spanning between the hollows of the flanges of the adjacent verticals, similar, sheet-metal supportmembers set as oor and ceiling strips, the floor strip receiving the projecting lower ends of the vertical support-members' between its anges with a sound-insulating cup interposed, means for locking a desired vertical support-member between the floor-strip and ceiling strip supportmembers, said means including a hanger-connector to hang on the upper end of such vertical support-member, slide telescoping jack channel members one engaging said hanger-connector and the other abutting the ceiling support-member between its flanges, and a screw-threaded thrust stem for forcing the channel members apart,

and upper-filler facings extending between the upper edge binding strips and the ceiling supportmember.

2. Partition construction comprising panel-sections having on each face a facing-sheet, an airspacing sheet spaced back thereof, sound-proof spacing strips at intervals between each facingsheet and air-spacing sheet, combined edge-binding and spacing means for said sheets including a sheet-metal. edge-strip having a portion to engage the edge of the facing-sheet and a groove of the vertical support-members between its flanges with a sound-insulating cup interposed, and upper filler facings extending between the upper edge binding strips and the ceiling supportmember.

3. Partition construction comprising panel sections having on each face a facing-sheet, an airspacing sheet spaced back thereof, sound-proof spacing strips at intervals between each facingsheet and air-spacing sheet, combined ledgebinding and spacing means for said sheets including a sheet-metal edge-Strip having a portion to engage the edge of the facing-sheet and a groove to engage the edge of the air-spacing sheet and an intrusive ange to engage between and a free groove back of and open in a reverse direction from the last-named groove, sheet-metal support-members having hollow ilanges toward each panel section and engageable in the free groove of leach edge-strip thereof, adjacent verticals being set back toward back. sound-insulating strips spanning between the hollows of the flanges of the adjacent verticals, and similar sheet-metal support-members set as floor and ceiling strips, the floor strip receiving, the projecting lower end of the vertical support-member between its flanges with a sound-insulating cup interposed. f

4. Partition lconstruction comprising panel sections having cn each face a facing-sheet, an airspacing sheet Vspaced back thereof, sound-proof spacing strips at intervals between each facingsheet and air-spacing sheet, sheet-metal supportmembers having ilanges engageable with the aforesaid sheets, adjacent verticals being set back toward the back, sound-insulating strips spanning between the hollows of the flanges. of the adjacent verticals, similar Vsheet-metal supportmembers set as floor and ceiling strips, the iioorstrip receiving the projecting lower end `of the vertical support-member between its flanges with a sound insulating cup interposed, and means for locking a desired vertical support-member between the iioor strip and ceiling strip supportmembers, -said means including a hanger-connector to hang on the upper end of such vertical support-member, and slide telescoping channel members one engaging said hanger-connector and the other abutting the ceiling support-member.

5. Partition construction comprising panel sections having on each face a facing-sheet, an airspacing sheet spaced baci: thereof, sound-proof spacing strips at intervals between each facingsheet and air-spacing sheet, combined edge-binding and spacing means for said sheets including a sheet-metal edge-strip having a portion to engage the edge of the facing-sheet'and a groove to engage the edge of the air-spacing sheet and an intrusive flange to engage between and a free groove back of and open in a reverse direction from the last-named groove, sheet-metal supportmembers having hollow flanges toward each panel section and engageable in the free groove of each edge-strip thereof, adjacent verticals being set back toward back, sound-insulating strips spanning between the hollows of the anges of the adjacent verticals, similar sheet-metal support-members set as4 oor and ceiling strips, the fioorstrip receiving the projecting lower ends of the vertical support-members, and means for locking a desired vertical support member between the floor strip and ceiling strip supportmembers.

6. Partition construction comprising panel sections having on each face a facing-sheet, an airspacing sheet spaced back thereof, sound-proof spacing strips at intervals between each facingsheet and air-spacing sheet, combined edge-binding and spacing means for said sheets including a sheet-metal edge-strip having a portion to engage the edge-of the facing-sheet and a groove to engage the edge of the air-spacing sheet and an intrusive flange to engage between and a free groove back of and open in a reverse direction from the last-named groove, and sheet-metal support-members having hollow flanges toward each panel section and engageable in the free groove of each edge-strip thereof, adjacent verticals being set back toward back.

7. Partition construction comprising panel sections having on each face a facing-sheet, an airspacing sheet spaced back thereof, sound-proof spacing strips at intervals between each facingsheet and air-spacing sheet, combined edgebinding and spacing means for said sheets including a sheet-metal edge-strip having a portion to engage the edge of the facing-sheet and a groove to engage the edge of the air-spacing sheet and an intrusive flange to engage between and a free groove back of and open in a reverse direction from the last-named groove, sheetmetal support-members having'hollow flanges toward each panel section and engageable in the free groove of each edge-strip thereof, adjacent verticals being set back toward back, sound-insulating strips spacing between the hollows of the anges of the adjacent verticals, and upper filler facings extending between the upper edge binding strips and the ceiling.

8. Partition construction comprising .panel sections having on each face a facing-sheet, an airspacing sheet spaced back thereof, sound-proof spacing strips at intervals between each facingsheet and air-spacing sheet, combined edge-binding and spacing means for said sheets including a sheet-metal edge-strip having a portion to engage the edge of the facing sheet and a groove to engage the edge of the air-spacing sheet and an intrusive flange to engage between and a free groove back of and open in a reverse direction from the last-named groove, sheet-metal support-members having hollow flanges toward each panel section and engageable in the free groove of each edge-strip thereof, adjacent verticals being set back toward back, a similar sheet-metal support-member set as a floor strip, the iioor strip receiving a projecting lower ends of the vertical support-members between its flanges and a sound-insulating cup interposed.

9. Partition construction comprising panel sections having on each face a facing-sheet, an air-spacing sheet spaced back thereof, soundproof spacing strips at intervals between each facing-sheet and air-spacing sheet, and combined edge-binding and spacing means for said sheets including a sheet-metal edge-strip having a portion to engage the edge of the facing-sheet and a groove to engage the edge of the airspacing sheet and an intrusive flange to engage between and a free groove back of and open in a reverse direction from the last-named groove.

10. Partition construction comprising panel sections having on each face a facing-sheet, an air-spacing sheet spaced back thereof leaving an air-space between, sound-proof spacing strips at intervals between each facing-sheet and airspacing sheet, and combined edge-binding and spacing means for said sheets including a sheetmetal edge-strip having a portion to engage the edge of the facing-sheet and a groove to engage the edge of the air-spacing sheet and an intrusive fiange to engage between.

11. Partition construction comprising panel sections having on each face a facing-sheet, and sheet-metal support-members having hollow1 flanges toward each panel section, adjacent verticals being set back toward'back, and means for aligning and connecting the same with interruption of sound-conduction, said means including sound-insulating strips spanning between the hollows of the flanges of the adjacent verticals.

12. Partition construction comprising panel sections having on each face a. facing-sheet, sheetmetal channel vertical support-members having paired hollow flanges toward each panel section, and means for locking said vertical supportmembers between oor and ceiling, said means including a hanger-connector to hang on the upper end of such vertical support member, slide telescoping channel members one engaging said hanger-connector and the other extending to the ceiling, and a screw-threaded thrust stem for forcing the channel members apart.

13. Partition construction comprising panel sections with edge grooves, means for holding the l THOMAS R. GRAHAM. 

